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The 20th SEEFEN Regional Meeting: New Trends and Collaborative Efforts in Countering Firearms

Senior police investigators, customs officials, prosecutors, ballistic experts, border police representatives from six Western Balkan jurisdictions, Moldova and Ukraine, along with representatives of relevant regional and international organizations, gathered in Tirana on 14-15 May for the Jubilar 20th Regional Meeting of the South East Europe Firearms Experts Network (SEEFEN).

Organized biannually by SEESAC, SEEFEN meetings facilitate information sharing and ways forward in combatting firearm and explosives trafficking in and out of South East and East Europe. The 20th meeting covered critical topics, including the latest developments in 3D-printed weapons, challenges in obliteration recovery methods, findings of FFPs and Ballistic Laboratories' outreach to the Prosecution, as well as SEESAC’s new study on hand grenades originating from the Western Balkans.

The event offered a platform for delegations to present updates and challenges in countering illicit arms trafficking and exchanged the newest trends related to firearms crimes as well as the examples of cooperation between investigators, ballistics experts, and prosecutors

Several critical topics were covered during the first day of the meeting, reflecting the evolving landscape of firearm trafficking:

  • The study on hand grenades originating from the Western Balkans: a comprehensive tool to assist authorities in the identification and forensic examination of hand grenades, providing guidelines for forensic examination and identification.
  • 3D printed firearms, State of Play, Challenges and Law Enforcement Approach: The research findings on markings found on 3D-printed parts highlighted new challenges in tracing and linking 3D-printed weapon parts offering extensive insights to help law enforcement authorities effectively respond to this evolving challenge - intended for limited distribution to law enforcement institutions only.
  • Serial Number Obliteration and Recovery: methodologies for codifying materials and techniques for recovering obliterated serial numbers, with a focus on the importance of enhancing cooperation with law enforcement agencies.

Participants focused on emerging threats and investigative challenges on the second day of the meeting. One key discussion centered around updates to the Handbook on Ukraine, presented by Mr. Adam Piotrowski from FRONTEX, aimed at better addressing the current security landscape, furthermore participants focused on the investigation of the Zoraki 917, a blank-firing replica of the Glock 17. The discussion emphasized the need for enhanced information sharing to effectively counter this emerging threat. Additionally, detecting and utilizing electronic evidence was underscored, as it becomes increasingly crucial in modern investigations.

Participants also discussed good practices for detecting and using electronic evidence in investigations and the intersection of blockchain technology and firearms trafficking, particularly focusing on how criminals exploit cryptocurrency platforms for illicit activities.

The event concluded with a summary of key points and a call to action to maintain the momentum in regional cooperation and intelligence sharing. Mr. Besfort Lamallari, Deputy Minister of Interior of Albania, emphasized the importance of continuous efforts in combating illicit firearms trafficking, ensuring that it remains a priority on both regional and international security agendas.

The Southeast Europe Firearms Experts Network is supported by the European Union through the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in Southeast Europe.

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